Hughes scores in return to Vancouver, Minnesota Wild down Canucks 4-2

Max Sasson and Brock Boeser both found the back of the net for the Canucks (2-10-1) in the third period.

Leevi Merilainen made 30 saves for Vancouver, which lost its 10th straight game. The team has not won since Oct. 3 when it beat the Calgary Flames 4-1.

The Wild opened the scoring late in the first on Sunday after Filip Chytil was called for high sticking.

Kaprizov sliced a pass across the top of the crease to Shabanov, who tapped a shot in backdoor with 87 seconds left in the frame.

Brink doubled the lead at the 5:54 mark of the second after Chytil turned the puck over along the boards.

Michael McCarron picked it up and snapped it to Brink, who drove in, pulling Merilainen out of his crease, then wrapped a shot around the goalie to make it 2-0.

With Minnesota on another power play midway through the second, Hughes swiped a rebound in backdoor to boost the Wild’s lead.

The star defenceman then set Kaprizov up early in the third, carrying the puck up the ice and dishing off to the sniper, who powered into Vancouver territory and pulled his shot around Merilainen’s outstretched pad to make it 4-0.

Sasson got the Canucks on the board about three minutes later, collecting a pass from Filip Hronek and charging up the ice to put a shot past Pickard for his third goal of the season.

Boeser sealed the score with just over three minutes left on the game clock. Elias Pettersson sliced the winger a pass at the top of the slot and Boeser hammered it in past Pickard for his third of the campaign.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Looked threatening early, outshooting the visitors 10-5 across the first period, but couldn’t maintain the pressure. Vancouver came into the game with the league’s worst penalty kill (65.0 per cent) and gave up two goals on five infractions across the night.

Wild: Hughes’ goal marked his 500th regular-season point (68 goals, 431 assists). The 27-year-old American tallied 432 points over 459 regular-season games with the Canucks before getting dealt to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal last December.

KEY MOMENT

Hughes collected a rebound off Shabanov’s shot and sent a quick shot in past Merilainen to put the Wild up 3-0 with his third goal of the season 12:54 into the second period.

KEY STAT

Hughes became the second fastest American defenceman to reach 500 NHL points, achieving the feat in 520 games. Brian Leetch hit the milestone in 496 games.

UP NEXT

Wild: Visit the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday.

Canucks: Visit the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Hughes scores in return to Vancouver, Minnesota Wild down Canucks 4-2

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